Does your dog’s breath smell so bad that a mere whiff of it is enough to make your eyes water? If so, then your dog isn’t alone. Many owners fail to brush their dogs’ teeth regularly, resulting in bad breath.
But are offensive mouth odors always caused by poor oral hygiene? Or is something more sinister afoot in your dog’s body? And is there a way to get rid of their bad breath?
Read on to find out!
8 Reasons Why a Dog’s Breath Stinks
While we shouldn’t expect a dog’s breath to smell like peaches and sunshine, bad breath is abnormal and may even be a sign of a serious health problem.
With that in mind, here are the 8 possible reasons why a dog’s breath stinks.
1. Dental / gum disease
Dental and gum diseases are among the most common causes of bad breath in canines.
If you don’t take care of your dog’s oral hygiene, bacteria can accumulate on their teeth to form a sticky film called plaque, which in turn can harden into tartar. Plaque significantly increases the likelihood of tooth decay, which can emit a foul odor. Tartar can cause gingivitis or gum inflammation, which can also contribute to bad breath.
In addition, tartar makes it easier for debris such as hair, bone fragments, stick slivers, etc. to get lodged in the gum line, which can also turn a dog’s breath nasty.
2. Disgusting dietary habits
Dogs eat poop. Not all of them, and not all the time, but they eat poop – both their own and other dogs’. A dog may even eat other species’ fecal matter. As you can guess, poop-eating can cause bad breath.
However, even eating something less disgusting, such as a toy or a household object, can cause issues. The inability to digest non-food items can induce prolonged vomiting, resulting in dehydration and a dry mouth that can also cause the breath to sour.
3. Toxins
It’s not unusual for a dog to gobble up anything that looks remotely edible. Unfortunately, this makes them prone to eating toxic things that can make their breath stink.
For example, swallowing cigarettes can make your dog’s breath smell like nicotine, while certain plants can give their breath a rotten odor.
4. Gut bacteria imbalance
To ensure your dog’s gut is always in great health, it’s best to feed them high-quality dog food approved by a vet. Otherwise, you could end up upsetting the balance of their gut bacteria, which can lead to a number of issues.
For instance, having your dog observe a raw diet can increase the risk of Salmonella bacteria overpopulating their gut, which can result in rancid breath. If you insist on feeding your pooch food other than dog food, seek advice from a veterinary nutritionist or regular vet, first.
5. Mouth tumors or cancers
Tumors or cancers of the mouth can result in horrible breath. When growths become infected, some tissues die to cause the emission of foul odors that can’t be killed no matter how well you take care of your pet’s teeth.
Oral tumors and cancers are more common in senior dogs.
6. Kidney disease
The kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from the body. If those kidneys aren’t working properly due to disease, toxins known as urea begin to build up in the dog’s blood. As the kidney dysfunction grows severe, this urea then causes the dog’s breath to smell like urine or ammonia.
Bad breath is just one of the main symptoms of kidney disease. The others include mouth ulcers, pale gums, bloody urine, increased or decreased urination, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea or vomiting, and reduced appetite.
7. Liver disease
The liver helps with blood clotting and digestion. And like the kidneys, it cleanses the body of toxins. Therefore, a defective liver also results in the buildup of toxins in a dog’s system.
Liver disease leads to symptoms such as smelly breath, jaundice, diarrhea or vomiting, increased thirst, bloody urine or feces, confusion, an unstable walk, and more.
8. Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious condition that affects many organs in the body. If untreated or unregulated, it can lead to the breakdown of fat in the body, in turn resulting in the production of molecules known as ketones. Ketones can give a dog’s breath a sweet or acetone smell.
Other symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, increased drinking, increase appetite, vomiting, a poor coat, weakness, and seizures.
Treating Bad Breath in Dogs
Does your dog’s breath reek? Don’t worry; there are things you can do to treat bad breath in canines.
1. Take them to the vet
If your dog’s breath has turned putrid, the first and best thing you can do is to take them to a vet for an examination. A vet can identify their specific problem, then provide the appropriate treatment.
Dogs that are prone to gum disease need to be taken to the vet regularly for dental cleaning. This keeps the teeth free of plaque and tartar, therefore preventing issues that lead to bad breath.
2. Brush their teeth regularly
Make your dog’s breath smell great again! Brush their teeth daily to prevent the buildup of plaque that’s conducive to the development of offensive mouth odors. For effective cleaning, make sure to use a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed for doggos!
3. Use dental products and diets
Wage war on unholy oral stench using dental treats and other products designed to boost canine oral health.
For example, munching on dental treats can reduce plaque by almost 70% through the simple mechanical act of chewing, which scrapes the plaque off the teeth. Other treats are coated with anti-plaque chemical agents such as polyphosphate, which can reduce tartar by 55%.
There are also dental products that are added to a pet’s drinking water. These promote oral health and treat your dog’s fetid breath.
Then there are dental diets, which can also prevent excessive plaque buildup.
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is an organization that examines pet products to ensure they meet standards for plaque or tartar reduction. The VOHC only approves dental products such as chews, treats, diets, and supplements if they can reduce tartar or plaque by 10% or more. If the product uses an anti-plaque chemical, it should reduce tartar or plaque by a minimum of 20%.
Visit the VOHC website for a list of such products.
Conclusion
Poor oral hygiene is often the culprit behind disgusting mouth odors. However, bad breath can also be a symptom of a bigger health problem, such as liver disease or diabetes. It’s for this reason you should bring your dog to the vet if an awful stench starts coming out of their mouth.
Whether or not your dog is afflicted with a serious medical condition, you can ensure their breath stays fresh by regularly brushing their teeth and using dental treats, diets, and other products to promote their oral health. So keep their teeth nice and pearly white, and remember to bring them to the vet for regular dental cleaning!